Middle-of-the-road perspectives

NY Times Columnist Charles Blow And I Agree, Trump Will Not Be Impeached

Charles W. Blow, the New York Times columnist, is Trump’s slanderer-in-chief. Blow has been a huge advocate of impeachment (of Trump) since Election Day 2016, when his world came crumbling down. But he’s giving up his impeachment dream. He indicated “Everyone still hoping for Donald Trump’s removal from office is hoping against the odds.” At last we agree on something.

Two presidents have been impeached in American history, Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998-1999. Both men were impeached by the House of Representatives, and were let off the hook when the Senate was unable to muster a 2/3 majority for removal from office.

For Trump to be impeached and removed from the White House, the following events need to take place:

Democrats must retake the House and impeach the president with a simple majority. Blow thinks Democrats will win the House even though the odds makers think it’s about a 50/50 chance at this point in time.

Democratic senators then must find 67 votes to confirm the House impeachment. The odds are slim that Democrats will have 67 seats after the 2018 Election, or will be able to achieve a 2/3 vote including Republican turncoats.

Of course there’s still time for Trump to do or say something that would qualify him for impeachment. By the way, the President may be impeached and removed only for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Every day the Trump administration is doing battle with persons, states, municipalities and various investigators. Americans know that Trump is likely to do things that push the edge of the envelope constitutionally, so his haters might be able to craft a rationale for a legitimate impeachment proceeding. Democrats don’t give up hope yet.

Robert Mueller’s investigation and James Comey’s scandalous tome are the best chances for Democrats to achieve their dream of impeachment. But Mueller is now investigating a pornographic actress and a Playmate. And most everybody thinks Comey is a sanctimonious liar who is likely to be indicted.

If the Democrats gain control of the House they just might impeach Trump with their majority. The caucus is pretty solid, and it’s doubtful any of them would put the nation ahead of a chance to embarrass Trump. Getting 2/3 of the Senate would stall the removal of Trump.

What’s pathetic about this conversation is that Democrats have not one issue that will help them win over voters in 2108 or 2020 except Trump’s un-statesmanlike behavior and demeanor.

Immigration is a loser for Democrats. Except for New York and California and a few urban centers across the US, there is no great desire to see more illegals enter the country. In fact the sanctuary city and state movement is fizzling out.

Most Americans think California radicals who want to protect illegals at the expense of US citizens, are whacky. Even in California, some are separating from those that want amnesty for all illegal interlopers.

The wall is controversial, but Trump is convincing Americans that you can’t have a secure country without a secure border. And although many Americans want DACA kids to be saved, they don’t accept continued illegal immigration into the US. The wall will decrease the magnitude of this problem.

The Trump tax cut is making our economy soar. Americans are now seeing more money in their net pay. The stock market has remained strong. Businesses are growing. Employment is up. Wages are increasing. Economics will definitely have a great impact on the Elections, stupid.

Internationally, Trump might be on the brink of reining in North Korea. This blog has been skeptical that Kim Jung-un will ever give up his nukes. But the summit is going to happen.

Unfortunately no one has confiscated Trump’s IPhone. The president can’t stop tweeting and exaggerating. He’s been unable to ignore the Mueller investigation. He’s unable to just allow Comey to shoot himself in the foot.

As for Blow, he will continue to be rude, disrespectful and un-journalistic about Trump. Fewer people every day care about Blow’s opinions. But he is right about one thing, Trump’s not going to be impeached and removed from office.